2 July 2020
S4C's online service, Hansh, and the National Eisteddfod have come together to announce a new series called Bwyd Brên (Brain Food), as part of the Eisteddfod's multi-platform project, AmGen, which will give viewers a taste of the festival with an eclectic mix of digital activities.
Bwyd Brên is a series of presentations from the next generation of thinkers, inventors, achievers and those who are pioneering in their respective fields.
As we begin to emerge from a worldwide crisis which has impacted profoundly on medicine, the economy, society and the environment, there is no better time to hear from the young Welsh people who will lead the way in the future.
This series will make us question the way we think – about the language, the environment and all facets of life.
The first film will be shown on Friday at 12.30pm, as part of the slot at the Science and Tenchonology Village on #GwenerGwyddonol AmGen, which will be shown on the Hansh and Eisteddfod Facebook pages.
Bedwyr ab Ion, who is undertaking a PhD in Biological Sciences at Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol in Cardiff University, will host the first talk.
Bedwyr specialises in developing new vaccines and treatments, by combining computational chemistry, biochemistry tests and biological tests, to discover appropriate drugs for different illnesses.
In his Bwyd Brên presentation, Bedwyr will explain the pros and cons of conventional medicines and talk about the drive to discover new medicines - while also considering; will we ever create vaccines to combat every known illness and virus?
"Sparking a debate about the most timely and important topics," is the aim of the series, according to Rhodri ap Dyfrig, S4C Online Commissioner.
The second film, which will be shown on Sunday, 5 July, will look specifically on the power of language.
Seán Roberts is a lecturer of Linguistics at the School of English, Communication and Philosophy at Cardiff University.
He will use a host of techniques to explain how languages were formed and how they are continuing to develop, both in terms of a human cognition and through interaction with the wider environment.
The third film, to be shown on Friday 10 July, will be hosted by Nia Jones, a PhD student at Bangor University's School of Ocean Sciences, who is looking closely at microplastics, and how it has affected the north Wales coast.
"It's important to offer a variety of content on Hansh and this series offers a platform to Wales' most exciting communicators to discuss their ideas and share their perspective on a range of pressing subjects.
"The Coleg Cymraeg has been instrumental in curating these talks and we are delighted to be working with the National Eisteddfod to show these films as part of the AmGen programme."
